The latest U.S. cattle on feed report showed higher numbers from one year ago. NDSU Extension Livestock Economist Tim Petry says the drought pushed feedlot numbers higher than normal. “Placements this year were up nine percent. There were reasons why we had more placements in February, and it goes right back to the weather. The Southern Plains wheat belt got really dry down there. So, they pulled calves off early and a lot of them went to market. We don’t have any more or fewer calves this year than before. We just put them in a feedlot instead of on winter wheat.” Even with feedlots full right now, Petry still expects the demand for feeder calves in early summer to remain high.